Evaluation of Urban Heat Island Effect in Cybercity, New Delhi Using a 3D Urban Microclimate Model: Envi-Met

Abstract

Cities will face many challenges in the future as the global population grows and atmospheric conditions change. Climate change can alter how we use urban outdoor spaces, posing a threat to the city's long-term viability, necessitating city adaptation strategies.Sudden increasing population makes urban areas more exposed to Urban Heat Island. As a result, cities tend to experience higher temperatures than its proximate neighboring rural or non-urban area. The capital city of India i.e., New Delhi is known for its inordinate heat conditions during summer months and dangerously high Air Quality Index during winter season. The purpose of this work is to study the formation of Urban Heat Island and its effects on the microclimate on a corporate park: Cyber City, Gurgaon (which has been termed as the “futuristic commercial hub”) carried out with the ENVI-met software. For this intent, three-dimensional urban microclimate simulations were carried out. The parameters used were the percentage of green cover surrounding the site, its proximity to a water body, speed of wind and other factors such as impervious surfaces, density, H/W ratios and anthropogenic conditions. Through a strong analysis of the theoretical subjects and the analysis from the base case results of Cyber city, vision and design strategies were developed. Green space and material strategies like façade greening, highly reflective materials, green roofs (extensive/intensive), heat protective glass et cetera were used. To minimize urban heat islands, future policy initiatives may concentrate on promoting strategies to change urban geometry and anthropogenic heat in cities. This research can be extended by ensuring that New Delhi delivers on the highest ambition of the Paris Agreement and gives an exemplary example of a carbon neutral city by the year of 2050.